Orlando City 1-0 San Diego FC: Griezmann Delivers, Orlando Survives a Late San Diego Storm

By Alonso Contreras

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando City earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over San Diego FC, with Antoine Griezmann providing the decisive moment and the Lions holding on through a tense final stretch.

It was not a match Orlando dominated from start to finish. Instead, it was a game decided by efficiency, defensive commitment and the ability to survive when San Diego pushed forward looking for an equalizer.

The difference came in the 28th minute.

Griezmann strikes first

Orlando found the breakthrough through Antoine Griezmann, who finished from inside the box with his right foot, sending the ball into the lower-left corner.

The goal came after a combination involving Justin Ellis, who provided the assist, with Daryl Dike credited with the second assist.

The goal gave Orlando the advantage, but San Diego continued to threaten.

Earlier in the match, Griezmann had already tested goalkeeper CJ dos Santos with a shot from outside the box, while Justin Ellis and Daryl Dike also created opportunities inside the area.

Orlando also came close through Joran Gerbet, whose header from the center of the box went wide.

San Diego, meanwhile, created one of its best first-half chances when Anders Dreyer forced Maxime Crépeau into a save from inside the right side of the box.

Orlando protects the lead

The second half became increasingly physical and difficult for Orlando.

San Diego tried to push the Lions deeper, while Orlando looked for opportunities to attack in transition.

Orlando made attacking changes, bringing on Martín Ojeda for Braian Rhein and later introducing Tyrese Spicer for Daryl Dike. Wilder Cartagena and Joran Gerbet were also involved in the changes as Orlando adjusted its midfield structure.

The Lions continued to create chances.

At the 59th minute, Martín Ojeda tested dos Santos from outside the box, but the San Diego goalkeeper made the save.

Later, Marco Pašalić saw a shot blocked, while Iván Angulo also had an attempt inside the box blocked by Kieran Sargeant.

But San Diego refused to go away.

The final minutes turn into survival mode

The closing stages produced the biggest drama of the night.

With Orlando protecting a one-goal lead, San Diego began throwing more players forward.

At the 87th minute, Griezmann had another opportunity from inside the box, but CJ dos Santos saved his effort.

Then came Orlando's biggest scare.

In the 89th minute, Wilder Cartagena hit the crossbar from inside the box. The opportunity could have given Orlando some breathing room, but the ball stayed out.

San Diego immediately continued pressing.

Anders Dreyer struck the post in the 90th minute, giving Orlando another major warning as the visitors searched desperately for the equalizer.

The pressure continued deep into stoppage time.

San Diego earned a late corner in the 90th+11 minute, while Orlando received yellow cards to Iván Angulo and David Brekalo as the game became increasingly intense.

Orlando, however, managed to close the game out.

Three points built on resilience

The final score Orlando City 1, San Diego FC 0 tells the story of a match in which one goal was enough.

Griezmann's finish separated the teams, but Orlando's ability to withstand San Diego's late pressure was just as important.

The Lions had chances to extend their lead, but San Diego's goalkeeper kept his team alive. At the other end, Crépeau and the Orlando defense had to remain alert as the visitors attacked until the final whistle.

San Diego even came close to finding the equalizer through Dreyer's late effort against the post, but Orlando survived.

For Orlando City, this was ultimately about getting the result.

One goal.

One clean sheet.

Three points.

And, perhaps most importantly, the ability to survive a chaotic final stretch without allowing San Diego to find the breakthrough.

Antoine Griezmann provided the moment of quality. Orlando City's defense provided the resistance.

And when the final whistle arrived, the Lions had exactly what they wanted: a 1-0 victory.